Mechanism for mounting auxiliary equipment on a crane

ABSTRACT

A power operated hydraulic actuator is mounted on a crane to operate a latch which secures an outrigger support to the crane. The actuator has two telescopic pistons movable in each direction to move latch members into spaced apart lugs on the crane to fasten outrigger support lugs to the crane. The pistons in the actuator are reversed to disengage the latch members from the lugs on the outrigger support to release the support from the crane.

Oct. 8, 1974 United States Patent n91 @ozad I 1 MECHANISM FOR MOUN'llNG AUXILIARY FOREIGN PATENTS OR A T EQUIPMENT ON A CRANE PPUCA IONS 3/1970 Sweden...................................212/5 321,554 Harley R. Cozad, 1105 Maple Dr., A

[76] lnventor:

Cedar Rapids Iowa 52402 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk July 25, 1972 Assistant Examiner--James L. Rowland [2l] Appl. No.: 275,029

[22] Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. F. Verhoeven; C. E. Tripp .[57] ABSTRACT A power operated hydraulic actuator is mounted on a crane to operate a latch which secures an outrigger support to the crane. The actuator has two telescopic pistons movable in each direction to move latch mem- 2 5 mm 3 2 07-9 2 7., W F 86 B l 5 m 5 H "4% 2 2 9 a 5 4 2 n E 2 m ml 1 .u 2 mm m h nc "r a we Us l Hf C d 5mm UIF 11]] 2 8 555 [[l.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENT bers into spaced apart lugs on the crane to fasten out- .Se Cr aeu t b hmS cew m m nm O S ta 6 .E t r. 0. m u ehp W5 m w E e .22 m. ea .I. n e w a a re r .CBfi D edm h 5 0 a T. n 0 6 m dhr Se C m gm .l. .NQ eO h C n w: 3 o m P lo W r S hfl t r. O eomp m p .w umu rtfs 5555 F 7744 S //l.|5 22 l 9922 "M 4 H -U9 mm2 t M mummd aZ Sd f WWSl. omoo LSBBRG 882228 556666 999999 HHHHHH 90225 203 4 62 0. ,99 .9 229 3 55 236 .9 2 223333 PATENTED 81974 SHEET 8 OF 3 PATENTEU BET 81974 SHEET 30F a mu l l-Huh l BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There is shown in FIG. 1 a mobile crane consisting invention relates to mechanism for installing 5 ofa tIUCk carrier and a rotatable SUPGI'SII'UCIUI'C l4.

auxiliary equipment, such as outrigger boxes, on a crane.

A typical mobile crane consists of a revolving superstructure mounted on a truck carrier. To increase the stability of the truck carrier, without increasing the highway weight of the vehicle, it is known to equip the carrier at the construction site with removable pinconnected outrigger box systems, one at the rear of the carrier and one centrally'positioned on, the carrier, as shown, for example, in the US. Pat. No. 3,019,913, US. Pat. No. 3,021,015 or US. Pat. No. 3,096,887. Generally, these outrigger boxes are attached to the truck carrier by means of large pins which are cumbersome, difficult and time-consuming to remove or replace when handled manually using conventional tools and equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, actuators are mounted on the crane to operate latches which fasten or release the auxiliary equipment to the crane. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a power operated actuator is mounted on the crane at each end of an outrigger box to detachably fasten that end of the box to the crane. Each actuator has opposing pairs of telescoping pistons, and a latch is connected to the inner piston of each pair. On fastening operation of the actuator, a latch is extended from each end of the actuator, and each latch, on extension, passes through a lug on the outrigger box and lugs on the crane to fasten the. outrigger box to the crane. On releasing operation of the actuator, the latch at each end of the actuator is retracted to release the outrigger box lug from the crane lugs to permit removal of the outrigger box from the crane. A hydraulic valve is mounted in the crane to control the flow of pressure fluid to and from the actuators for selective releasing and fastening operation of the actuators.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to simplify the installation and removal of auxiliary equipment on a crane.

It is another object of the present invention toprovide actuators on a mobile crane for quickly and expeditiously fastening and releasing outrigger boxes.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide power operated actuators on a mobile crane for operation of latches to release or fasten outrigger boxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a mobile crane incorporating the fastening mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the outrigger support and the fastening mechanism therefor.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the latch and actuator in the retracted position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the latch and actuator in the extended position.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system for operating the latch actuating mechanism.

The truck carrier 12, which is adapted for highway travel, has rubber tired wheels 16 and a drivers cab 18. The superstructure 14 includes a boom 20 and boom supporting structure 22.

It is conventional to provide, for the crane, removable outrigger supports 28 which can be installed thereon at the construction job site. A typical outrigger support 28 is shown in FIG. 2. The outrigger support includes a box 30 in which two side-by-side tubes, or arms, 32, 34 are slidably received. Inside the box are two hydraulic cylinders 36, each having a piston (not shown) with rod 38 secured thereto. One cylinder 36 has one end secured to a bracket 40 at one end of .the outrigger box and the other cylinder 36 has the opposite end secured to a similar bracket (not shown) at the opposite end of the outrigger box. Thus, one cylinder 36 is secured to one end of the outrigger box with the piston rod thereof extending into one of the arms 32, and the other cylinder 36 is securedto the opposite end of the outrigger box with the piston rod thereof extending into the other of the arms 34. Each of the rods 38 is connected to the arm 32, 34 in which it is received so that extension and retraction of the rod, by the application of fluid pressure to one side or the other of the piston in the cylinder 36, will extend and retract the arms 32, 34.

Each arm 32, 34 terminates in a collar 44 in which a jack cylinder 46 is secured. The cylinder 46, which is vertically oriented, has a piston (not shown) with a rod 48 extending downwardly therefrom. A pad 50 is secured to the rod 48 for engagement with the ground when the outrigger box is mounted on the crane, and the rods 48 extended to their normal supporting positions. 2 depicts equally as well either the rear outrigger support or the central outrigger support.

The truck carrier 12 has eight pairs of lugs 56 depending therefrom. Four pairs of lugsdepend from the rear of the carrier and support one outrigger support 28 at an operating position P1; four pairs of lugs depend from the central region of the carrier and support another outrigger support 28 at an operating positionPZ. Insofar as the details of the mounting construction, and the details of the outrigger support 28, are concerned, FIG. DEPICTS EQUALLY AS WELL EITHER THE REAR OUTRIGGER SUPPORT OR THE CENTRAL OUTRIGGER SUPPORT.

The center of the lower surface 60 of the truck carrier is indicated by the longitudinal axis A (extending from front to rear of the vehicle). One pair of lugs depends from the surface 60 at each corner of an imaginary rectangle R lying in surface 60. The lugs, each of which has a circular opening 61 therethrough, lie in planes perpendicular to axis A. The rectangle R lies square, and centered,with respect to axis A as indicated in FIG. 2. It will be noted that the long sides of the rectangle R approximate in length the length of the outrigger box 30 and the shorter sides of the rectangle R approximate in width the width of the outrigger box 30 The outrigger box 30 has, at each corner, an upstanding ear, or lug 62, which, when the outrigger box is moved into mounting position on the crane, will each extend (in planes perpendicular to axis A) between one of the pairs of lugs 56 at the corners of the rectangle R. Each lug 62 has a circular opening 64 therethrough.

Two actuators 70 are each connected between two of the pairs of lugs to extend parallel to axis A. Each actuator 70 has a flange 72 at each end which is connected to the inner lug 56 of the pair. Thus, each actuator extends from the rear lug of the front pair of lugs, to the front lug of the rear pairs of lugs which lie directly behind the front pair.

As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, each actuator 70 has a housing 74 with a cylindrical chamber 76 therein. A snap ring 78 centrally mounted in the wall of chamber 76 divides the chamber into two halves, each half receiving a piston 80 therein. Each piston 80 has an internal chamber 82 which receives a second piston 84. Piston 84 has a piston rod 86 connected thereto which extends through piston 80. A cylindrical plunger, or latch, 88 is secured on rod 86 outside the piston 80.

When the pistons are in the position shown in FIG. 3, it will be noted that the latches 88 are in the inner lugs 56 of the pair of lugs on the truck carrier. The introduction of fluid under pressure to extend port 90 throughline 92 (FIG. will simultaneously move the two pistons 80, 84 in the left half of chamber'76 to the left and move the two pistons 80, 84 in the right half of chamber 76 to the right. When this occurs, fluid in chamber 76 and chamber 82 on the other sides of the pistons is discharged through the retract ports 94. The pistons 80, 84 in each half of the actuator housing will move to the positions shown in FIG. 4. Assuming that the outrigger box is in position for mounting to the truck carrier, the latches 88 will extend through the openings in the outrigger box lugs 62, and through the outer lugs 56 of the pair of carrier lugs. Thus, each actuator 70 securely fastens one end of the outrigger box to the carrier. and the two actuators together securely fasten the outrigger box for use as a truck carrier support.

When fluid under pressure is supplied toretract ports 94 through line 96, the pistons 84 and 80 are returned to the position of FIG. 3. At that time, fluid from chamber 76 and chamber 82 on the opposite sides of the pistons is discharged through extend port 90 and line 92. When latches 88 are returned to the position shown in FIG. 3, the outrigger box lugs 62 are released from between the carrier lugs 56 and the outrigger support 28 can be lifted away by the crane or otherwise removed.

It will beappreciated that the useof telescoping pistons 80, 84 in each half of the actuator housing permits a longer extension of latch 88 than would be possible with a single piston in each half of the actuator. Moreover, the use of back to back pistons 80 permits the extension and retraction of a latch 88 at each end of the actuator.

It will be noted that each outrigger box has two cylinders 36 for the extension of the arms, or tubes, 32, 34. The cylinder lines connected to each end of the cylinder 36 are connected to quick-disconnect plugs 100, I02 mounted on the truck (FIG. 5). The operation of the actuators 70 is effected by connecting lines 92 and 96 to disconnect plugs 100, 102 respectively as shown in FIG. 5. After the outrigger box is pinned to the truck carrier by the actuators, the actuator lines 92, 96 are disconnected from the plugs 100, '102 and the lines for the outrigger cylinders 36 are then connected to these plugs.

A circuit for supplying fluid under pressure selectively to the disconnect plugs 100, 102 is shown in FIG. 5. A pump 104, driven by motor 106, pumps fluid from reservoir 108 into line 110 under pressure. Line 110 contains a pressure regulating valve 112 which bleeds fluid through return line 114 to reservoir 108 as necessary to maintain a predetermined pressure in line 110. Pressure line 110 and return line 114 are connected to pressure port 116 and return port 118 of a selectively operable reversing valve 120. The two operating ports 122, 124 of valve are connected, respectively, to quick-disconnect plugs 100, 102 through lines 126, 128.

When valve 120 is shifted to the right of the position shown, fluid under pressure will be present at disconnect plug 100 and at extend port 90 of the latch actuator 70 (or at the extend port of cylinder 36). When valve 120 is shifted to the left of the position shown, fluid under pressure will be present at disconnect plug 102 and retract ports 94 of the latch actuator 70 (or at the retract port 132 of cylinder 36).

It will be noted that the power operated actuators 70 are permanently installed on the mobile crane, and therefore always available for conveniently securing or releasing the outrigger support to the crane. The outrigger support can be lifted into position for pinning by the actuators through use of the hydraulic jacks 46. The crane itself can also be used to assist in handling the outrigger support.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Mechanism for removably mounting an elongated outrigger support in an operating position on a crane comprising two actuators mounted on the crane in spaced apart relation, two latches connected to each actuator and extending in opposite directions from each actuator, means at each end of said outrigger support to straddle an actuator and receivethe opposing latches when the latches are extended to secure the outrigger support to the crane, and a control member mounted on the crane operably connected to said actuators selectively to extend said latches into said outrigger support to secure the outrigger support in said operating position on the crane and to retract said latches from said outrigger support to release said outrigger support from the operating position on said crane.

2. Mechanism for removably mounted a narrow elongated outrigger support in an operating position on a crane comprising two hydraulic actuators mounted on the crane in spaced apart relation, each actuator having two opposing outer pistons and two opposing inner pistons, said inner pistons telescopically received in the outer pistons and having a latch connected thereto, means at each end of said outrigger support to straddle an actuator and receive opposing latches when the latches are extended to secure the outrigger support to the crane, and a hydraulic valve mounted on the crane hydraulically connected to said actuators selectively to supply fluid under pressure to one end of said inner and outer pistons to extend said latches into said outrigger support and to supply fluid under pressure to the other end of said inner and outer pistons to retract said latches from said outrigger support to release said outrigger support from said crane.

3. Mechanism for removably mounting in an operating position on a crane a narrow elongated outrigger support having two extendable arms and having two actuators connected, respectively, to said arms for the extension and retraction thereof, the mounting mechanism comprising two hydraulic actuators mounted on the crane in spaced apart relation, each actuator having two opposing outer pistons and two opposing inner pistons, said inner pistons telescopically received in the outer pistons and having a latch connected thereto, means at each end of said outrigger support to straddle an actuator and receive opposing latches when the latches are extended to secure the outrigger support to the crane, a source of fluid under pressure on the crane, a hydraulic control valve mounted on the crane and connected hydraulically to said source, means to detachably connect the outrigger support arm actuators to said valve for extension and retraction of said arms and alternatively to connect said latch actuators to said valve to supply fluid under pressure alternatively to one end and the other end of said inner and outer pistons for extension and retraction of said latches into and out of said outrigger support.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,840,125 DATED October 8, 1974 INVENTOR( I HARLEY R. COZAD ltis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, lines 39 & 40, delete "2 depicts equally as well either the rear outrigger support or the central outrigger support." Col. 2, lines 49-51, delete "FIG. DEPICTS EQUALLY AS WELL EITHER THE REAR OUTRIGGER SUPPORT OR THE CENTRAL; OUIRIGGER SUPPORT." and insert therefor --Fig. 2 depicts equally as well either thE rear outrigger support or the central outrigger support.-.

.On 1st page of the Letters Patent the Assignee was left out. Should be: 7 -Assignee FMC Corporation,

San Jose, Calif'..

grigne d and Scaled this [SEAL] ninth Day Of Marc h1976 A trest:

RUTH C. MASON Attesting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner 0] Parents and Trademarks 

1. Mechanism for removably mounting an elongated outrigger support in an operating position on a crane comprising two actuators mounted on the crane in spaced apart relation, two latches connected to each actuator and extending in opposite directions from each actuator, means at each end of said outrigger support to straddle an actuator and receive the opposing latches when the latches are extended to secure the outrigger support to the crane, and a control member mounted on the crane operably connected to said actuators selectively to extend said latches into said outrigger support to secure the outrigger support in said operating position on the crane and to retract said latches from said outrigger support to release said outrigger support from the operating position on said crane.
 2. Mechanism for removably mounted a narrow elongated outrigger support in an operating position on a crane comprising two hydraulic actuators mounted on the crane in spaced apart relation, each actuator having two opposing outer pistons and two opposing inner pistons, said inner pistons telescopically received in the outer pistons and having a latch connected thereto, means at each end of said outrigger support to straddle an actuator and receive opposing latches when the latches are extended to secure the outrigger support to the crane, and a hydraulic valve mounted on the crane hydraulically connected to said actuators selectively to supply fluid under pressure to one end of said inner and outer pistons to extend said latches into said outrigger support and to supply fluid under pressure to the other end of said inner and outer pistons to retract said latches from said outrigger support to release said outrigger support from said crane.
 3. Mechanism for removably mounting in an operating position on a crane a narrow elongated outrigger support having two extendable arms and having two actuators connected, respectively, to said arms for the extension and retraction thereof, the mounting mechanism comprising two hydraulic actuators mounted on the crane in spaced apart relation, each actuator having two opposing outer pistons and two opposing inner pistons, said inner pistons telescopically received in the outer pistons and having a latch connected thereto, means at each end of said outrigger support to straddle an actuator and receive opposing latches when the latches are extended to secure the outrigger support to the crane, a source of fluid under pressure on the crane, a hydraulic control valve mounted on the crane and connected hydraulically to said source, means to detachably connect the outrigger support arm actuators to said valve for extension and retraction of said arms and alternatively to connect said latch actuators to said valve to supply fluid under pressure alternatively to one end and the other end of said inner and outer pistons for extension and retraction of said latches into and out of said outrigger support. 